Spiritual Meaning of November
November — the month of Samhain, All Saints, and the final preparation for winter — is the season when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest, the ancestors are remembered, and the year's final darkness settles before the solstice.
The Ancestors' Month
November (from Latin novem — "nine" — the original ninth month; the eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar; the month in the Northern Hemisphere when the trees have fully shed their leaves, the land has turned brown and grey, the nights have grown long and cold — the month of the deep autumn approaching winter). November begins with the Celtic Samhain (October 31/November 1) and the Christian All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2) — the consecutive festivals of the dead, the ancestors, and all who have gone before. The "thinning of the veil" — the ancient belief that in November the boundary between the living and the dead is at its most permeable, the ancestors most present.
The Long Dark Approach
November is the month of preparation for the deepest dark: the days shorten precipitously, the cold intensifies, and the outer world increasingly asks the inner question — what will sustain the life through the winter? The monk's answer: the spiritual practices accumulated through the active months will sustain the contemplative winter. The farmer's answer: the harvest stored in September and October will feed through November to March. November as the spiritual mirror: what have you gathered, stored, and prepared? What will you live on through the dark? Día de los Muertos (Mexico, November 1-2): the altar of the ofrendas, the marigold path, the photographs of the deceased — the celebration that honors the dead with the living's abundance, the most vivid and joyful of all the ancestor-honoring traditions. November's invitation: remember the dead, honor the ancestors, examine what is worth carrying through the long dark.
Key spiritual meanings of November
- Novem
- the ninth: November carrying its original calendar number, the ninth month now eleventh
- All Saints and All Souls
- the Church's consecutive days of the holy dead and all the faithful departed
- Día de los Muertos
- the marigold-altar celebration of the dead — the most vivid and joyful ancestor-honoring tradition
- The thinning veil
- the November belief that the boundary between the living and dead is at its most permeable
- The long dark approach
- the days shortening precipitously, the inner question becoming unavoidable — what will sustain you?
- What have you stored?
- November's agricultural question applied spiritually — what harvest have you laid by for the dark?
- Examining the ancestors
- the November invitation to honor, remember, and receive from those who came before you
- Spiritual meaning
- remember the dead with joy, examine what you have stored, prepare the inner provisions for the long dark ahead
Frequently asked questions
What does November mean spiritually?
November — the month of Samhain, All Saints, and the final preparation for winter — is the season when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest, the ancestors are remembered, and the year's final darkness settles before the solstice.
The Ancestors' Month
November (from Latin novem — "nine" — the original ninth month; the eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar; the month in the Northern Hemisphere when the trees have fully shed their leaves, the land has turned brown and grey, the nights have grown long and cold — the month of the deep autumn approaching winter). November begins with the Celtic Samhain (October 31/November 1) and the Christian All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2) — the consecutive festivals of the…
The Long Dark Approach
November is the month of preparation for the deepest dark: the days shorten precipitously, the cold intensifies, and the outer world increasingly asks the inner question — what will sustain the life through the winter? The monk's answer: the spiritual practices accumulated through the active months will sustain the contemplative winter. The farmer's answer: the harvest stored in September and October will feed through November to March. November as the spiritual mirror: what have you gathered,…
What are the 8 spiritual meanings of November?
1. Novem — the ninth: November carrying its original calendar number, the ninth month now eleventh 2. All Saints and All Souls: the Church's consecutive days of the holy dead and all the faithful departed 3. Día de los Muertos: the marigold-altar celebration of the dead — the most vivid and joyful ancestor-honoring tradition 4. The thinning veil: the November belief that the boundary between the living and dead is at its most permeable 5. The long dark approach: the days shortening precipitously, the inner question becoming unavoidable — what will sustain you? 6. What have you stored?: November's agricultural question applied spiritually — what harvest have you laid by for the dark? 7. Examining the ancestors: the November invitation to honor, remember, and receive from those who came before you 8. Spiritual meaning: remember the dead with joy, examine what you have stored, prepare the inner provisions for the long dark ahead